Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at age 24, the team announced.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Cowboys wrote in a statement on Thursday, November 6. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Frisco police confirmed in a press release that Kneeland died by suicide following a pursuit earlier that night where troopers attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation. Officers initially lost Kneeland’s car before later finding it crashed on the Dallas Parkway. Believing he had fled on foot, police say they used K-9 and drone units to attempt to find him. During their search, they were told he had expressed “suicidal ideations,” according to the release.
In police dispatch audio obtained by TMZ Sports, operators can be heard relaying information from Catalina, who said she received a message from Kneeland saying he would “end it all.” She added that he was armed and had a history of mental health issues.
Dispatchers also said they were in communication with the NFL, which called out of concern for one of its players, who was “texting his family goodbye.”
Kneeland was a 2024 second-round draft pick for Dallas out of Western Michigan University, where he was a second-team All-MAC selection in 2023.
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He appeared in seven games this season, starting three of them. In the Cowboys’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday, November 3, Kneeland scored the team’s first touchdown after recovering a blocked punt in the endzone. It was his first career touchdown.
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,” Kneeland’s agent Jonathan Perzley, confirmed in a statement to NFL.com. “I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”
Perzley continued, “My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time. I ask that you please give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.”
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“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” the NFL said in a statement of its own. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”
The Cowboys, who are 3-5-1 on the season, have a Week 10 bye. They will return to the field on November 17 on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders.
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